Testing firestarters

[kforbs126]

So I would love to use all the wasted wax that I have, which is a good amount, to make some firestarters. I don't have a fireplace nor know anyone who does. How can I go about testing?

[joym]

Probably not really necessary to test these; best thing is to have clear warning labels that say they are not a candle. But, perhaps you could find an outdoor barbeque grill or fire pit in a nearby park?

[ksranch]

I absolutely tested mine - you need to be sure your combination (I use sawdust + wax) and size will burn on it's own long enough to start a fire. the suggested grill or pit in a park is a good alternative

[Georgia]

I got a disposable roasting pan and burned it in the back yard. I needed to know how long it would burn. Then when my neighbors were out with their fire pit I offered to help them start it.

[Michdj]

I tested mine on a couple bricks in the street. I absolutely didn't want wax running all over the fireplace, so I kept testing them until I got a 20-minute burn with only a few drops of residual wax drippings. I guess it just depends on what you're looking for in a product.

[EricofAZ]

Put one in a parking lot, call your friends, light it, time it. Measure the height. Make sure you don't set the asphalt on fire.

I look for 10 minutes or so and I look for a 6 inch flame that is about an inch in diameter.

I then look to see if it was entirely consumed or if there was wax left over. If in a fireplace, leftover wax is not good. Most consume themselves entirely. If there is residue, can you discard it easily (like cleaning a fireplace)? If so, fine.

If not, then they are outdoor campfire only.

I load a dixi cup with hamster wood. I pack it well then just pour some wax to where it shows in the top with the wood. A woody top is fine.

Edited October 8, 2013 by EricofAZ